The first of ten children, Bro. Anthony Djimatey Lawer, SVD was born on Wednesday the 15th August 1957 at Bomase-Odumase Krobo in the upper Manya district of the eastern region to John Lawer and Sarah Adjo Nimo. At eight months old, baby Anthony suffered a severe fever which led to losing a leg and making him disable. He also had difficulty in speech. It was only at four years that he finally spoke.In spite of his disability he did not relent in his effort to go to school and so was enrolled at Bomase Catholic Primary School from 1963 to 1969. He crawled daily to school and when he had to use a walking stick to school, he did. It was during this time that Rev. Fr. Curtis Washington, SVD discovered him to be a brilliant but a needy pupil and gave all the assistance Anthony needed to continue his middle school education at Asesewa Catholic Middle School from 1970 to 1974. Although he gained admission to go to St. Paul’s Technical School at Kukurantumi, Fr. Washington advised him to rather do Secondary education.For his brilliant performance he was awarded Cocoa Board scholarship when he gained admission to Pope John Secondary school, Koforidua where he obtained his O’ Level. He pursued his teacher training at Akatsi Teacher Training College from 1980 to 1983. He enrolled to be a religious Brother in the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) and entered SVD Postulancy at Nkwatia from 1984-1986.After profession first vows on 8th September 1987 at NkwatiaKwahu, he was sent to Asesewa and was teaching at the Catholic Primary School. He was in the community with the then Fr. Gabriel Kumordji, SVD.

He furthered his education at the School of Administration Legon and later to the Winneba College of Education. He was posted to serve at the Catholic Book Centre, Accra and later sent to be the administrator of the Divine Word Catholic Conference Centre (DWCCC), Nsawam. His next posting was to the Catholic primary school at Osonson as the headteacher. He served as a teacher at St. Michael Junior High School at Donkorkrom, Afram Plains.

He worked at the Bursary at St. Peter’s Secondary School, Nkwatia and later assigned as the Head of St. Peter’s Junior Secondary school a post he held till his death.Brother Anthony was very dedicated in his profession as a teacher. He was always updating himself professionally by taking courses here and there. Some of those refresher courses he did at the Presbyterian University at Abetifi.He was known to be disciplined as far as his teaching profession was concerned and would discipline both staff and pupils who contravene the rules of education. This made him to be outstanding when it comes to the academic performance of his pupils at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) . His conviction of the Biblical principle ‘Spare the rod and spoil the child’ (Prov. 34:24), angered some parents that made him to be featured on the Volta Star Radio during his days as a teacher in the Afram Plains. That notwithstanding, Brother Lawer received awards of being the best performing basic school in the Eastern Region and the best basic Science school in the Eastern Region in 2015.

He had planned to enjoy his retirement from the Education service this year for which he had hitherto received a letter to its effect and has been permitted by the SVD to do a ‘sabbatical’ year in Nemi and then move on to another ministry. It is said that man proposes but God disposes; it was in the preparation to finish up with his last batch of BECE pupils to end his career as a teacher when the dreadful diabetes disease which he was controlling for some time now popped up. He himself took it to be one the usual signs only to be taken to hospital for a routine control but he fell into coma at the Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw and was ambulanced to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where he remained unconscious for six days and was pronounced dead on Monday 22nd May 2017.

Brother Anthony would be remembered for not sparing his words when you touch on his dislikes. Many who have come into contact with him may have had a fair share of his mantra “Kwashia”. He would largely be remembered for his dedication to teaching and for contributing immensely to the academic formation of a number of Ghanaians who have gone through him.May he rest in perfect peace.​

Bro. Anthony Djimatey Lawer, SVD

A TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF THE LATE REV. BRO. ANTHONYLAWER (HEADMASTER NKWATIA ST. PETER'S J.H.S)

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first”(1 Thess. 4:16)Rev. Anthony Lawer, whose immobile body lies before us now, was popularly called "Master" by the entire Staff and Pupils.He took over as Headmaster of our school from Mrs. Affram in the year 2010and remained an active head of the school until he passed on unto glory onMay 22, 2017 after a short illness.

During his administration, the school won a lot of awards due to his hard work,discipline and dedication to duty. Some of the awards recorded during his termof office are:

The third best Junior High School for Eastern Region .

The third best Science school in BECE for Eastern Region.

The pupils were not left out during this period under his leadership. Apupil' won the Presidential Award for BECE and two others won scholarships from an N.G.O. .He was a kind hearted man who will always share a joke or two to make youfeel at home.We will forever remember your tolerance, hard work and dedication.Master, we would forever miss you but we take consolation from the openingverse that we would one day meet in Heaven after the resurrection of thesaints.Master, fare thee wellMaster, damirifa due

When news of your severe illness got to us we hoped and prayed for a miracle. We took consolation from the word of God, whichremind us that everything is possible. On your sick bed you coughed a couple of times and we were hopeful that the miracle we prayed for was here but the word of God tells us again that in all things we should be thankful and so we are grateful to him foreverything . He gave you to us and in his own time took you away. Awetse, you were full of life, a great sense of humour you had. Anytime you came around everyone of us had to look “sharp” because “big Brother” had arrived. You made a lot of joke about everything especially your ‘Ghana must go’. You used to carry it so well because according to you nothief will attack you even when you had money stuck in it.Brother, you made difficult situations seem very light and we miss all of that about you. Yaa Adjo your mum says she wished you were here to see her off but you rather left without saying a word .“Miss you calling me from afar “YaaAdjo” anytime you came to visit me. My son all I can say is farewell till we meet again” says your mum.

We would miss all your jokes. Now there will be no one to tease us. You were our friend and you shared all your joy and fears with us. Your constant phone calls to us would be no more…..hmmm.

Farewell from your siblings. We say thanks for being our big brother. Oke nyemi saminya.From your cousins we say mutsumio, Awetse.We all love you but God loves you more. If we had to choose a big brother again we will choose you over and over again.Farewell Awetse till we meet again.​********************************************************************************NameAbraham Osabutey, MonroviaEmailintergrity111@gmail.comMy TributeHe was my headmaster @ Osonson R/c, oooh God, Rev. I pray that may it be well with your soul......hmmmmmm

​TRIBUTE FROM BRO. PAUL TAWIAH RICHMOND SVD

‘’ While we are alive, we are living for the Lord, and when we die, we die for the Lord: and so, alive or dead, we belong to the Lord. (Romans 14: 8)My heart is very heavy and the tears from my eyes have not stop flowing as I write this eulogy. Joe Lawer or AwotseLawer, as we affectionately called him by his colleagues, came to the Postulancy with his Colleague Bro. Anthony Mensah when I was in first year Novitiate program at St Peter’s Nkwatia –Kwahu in 1984 under the Directorship of Very Rev. Fr. Carlos Lariosa SVD.

I professed first vows a year ahead of Awotse and we all pursued our various professional developments. We met again in the second Novitiate program in preparation for final Vows under our Novice Master the then Very Rev. Fr. Frank Nubuasah SVD, who is currently the Bishop of Francistown in Botswana. During the preparation for the final Vows, the two of us became close to each other than ever as we shared our experiences.

I experienced him to be lively, outgoing and had passion for excellence. In spite of his disability, he blended well with all. He was a kind-hearted and benevolent to all who needed his help and support. At times his benevolence created problems for him. He was a very hardworking, disciplinarian, affable and well-disposed. He was a jovial person and had a great sense of humor which always defuses tension where ever he found himself. On the other hand, if he did not agree with you on issues, he did not hide it; he would utter it and sometimes in unpleasant language.

Awotse Lawer, why this time? Yes, we all know that death is inevitable but yours was too sharp for us. Ah! what would happen to the Nemi Course in Rome this August which you were telling all of us? Did you know that, your name is written on the door allocated to you in Rome? Oh death!!! There are many questions to the problem of life than answers. As Christians we can only find consolation in the Lord Our Creator, with the words of St Paul, the great Apostle; “All things happen for the good of them that are in Christ Jesus and for them who are called according to his purpose and will” (Romans 8:28)